Long after Li Nanfang's "girlfriend" had left, he slowly opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling in deep thought, exhaled a breath he'd been holding, sat up on the sofa, and rubbed his aching head. He walked to the washbasin and splashed cold water on his face. The bruise from his headbutt against the wall had faded, and the wound had scabbed over—minor injuries that meant nothing to him. After freshening up, he felt revitalized.Outside, Zhang Wei's voice could be heard organizing the cleaning of the work area; the end of the workday was near. No one dared to speak loudly in the duty room that afternoon. After all, the scoundrel not only had Min Rou as a formidable backing but also a tigerish girlfriend. Provoking him could lead to dire consequences.After attending to his personal hygiene, Li Nanfang sat back on the sofa and picked up the envelope from the floor. Inside were thirty thousand yuan—compensation for "emotional distress" from Bai Ling. Though he felt somewhat undeserving, he had no intention of returning the money. Accepting Bai Ling's gesture with goodwill, he convinced himself it was an act of kindness. Surely, after this lesson, Bai Ling would be more cautious in the future—a great benefit for her growth.Men always find excuses for their despicable actions.Moreover, hadn't Mr. Li sacrificed blood and flesh to teach Officer Bai a lesson in civilized law enforcement? The scar on his forehead was proof enough. The thirty thousand yuan would serve as nourishment, to buy more eggs and replenish his blood."I'm ultimately a kind-hearted person, capable of restraining myself even in trying circumstances," he praised himself. With that, he stood up and left the duty room.Zhang Wei and the others had finished cleaning and were standing by their cars, awaiting their bosses' arrival. Li Nanfang glanced at the robust Mercedes-Benz and leisurely exited the parking lot. At a newsstand under a bus stop sign, he picked up a newspaper and leaned against a lamppost. It wasn't until he saw Yue Zitong exit the building that he strolled westward.The newspaper vendor, a matron, called out, "Hey, you! I'm talking to you. Come back here!"Li Nanfang turned, smiling innocently, and asked, "Yes?""Think so? You've been reading for ages without paying. Are you even a man?" she retorted, stepping out of her booth with hands on her hips, ready for a showdown.Li Nanfang said nothing, merely unbuttoning his shirt to reveal his tattooed torso.The matron immediately wilted, retreating into her booth without another word.The old man was right: in this society, only officials and scoundrels thrive.A scoundrel reading a newspaper for free? Preposterous. If you can't take a joke, don't complain.Li Nanfang smirked, feeling for the first time that being a scoundrel had its perks.As Yue Zitong's car approached, the traffic light turned red. Boarding here shouldn't be considered a violation.A fawning grin spread across Li Nanfang's face as he approached the car and knocked on the window, signaling Yue to open the door. Yue Zitong, however, ignored him completely. As soon as the light turned green, she accelerated through the intersection. Judging by her demeanor, if Li Nanfang had dared to step in front of the car, he wouldn't have stood a chance against her relentless wheels.Does she really think I can't get back to the Garden Villa District without her ride?The city's taxi drivers are all vying for my business, their eager eyes fixed on my raised hand.Almost as soon as Yue Zitong's car pulled into the villa, a taxi slid to a stop by the roadside. Generously tipping the driver four extra yuan, Li Nanfang waved off the man's effusive gratitude, inwardly sighing: Alas, in this modern society, people lose all dignity and responsibility over a mere four yuan.Upon reaching the living room entrance, dignified Mr. Li suddenly sensed something amiss: the taxi fare from Kai Huang Group to here was sixteen yuan. He had thought he handed the driver a twenty-yuan note, only to realize it was a crisp hundred.No wonder the fellow thanked me profusely and heaped praise on me. I must have been preoccupied with how to appease my aunt and absentmindedly mistook a hundred for twenty.Good thing you bolted, and I'm in a forgiving mood today. Consider the extra fare a gift, but next time, don't let me catch a ride with you again—payment is definitely out of the question.After recalling the driver's appearance, Li Nanfang stepped into the living room.As usual, Yue Zitong sat on the sofa watching TV after work, her expression calm and detached."Off work?" Li Nanfang asked, stating the obvious.Yue Zitong, as if she hadn't heard, bent down, took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and inhaled."What would you like for dinner tonight?" Li Nanfang inquired.Yue Zitong exhaled a plume of smoke and switched the channel with the remote."Young ladies should avoid smoking; it accelerates aging. Oh, right, I'll make you stir-fried pig's blood with chili tonight. It's great for cleaning the lungs and blood vessels."Li Nanfang spoke as if addressing thin air, expecting no response. He ventured into the dining area, tied an apron around his waist, donned a paper hat, and began prepping vegetables and cooking.During his commute home, Li Nanfang had deeply reflected on his morning attitude toward Yue Zitong. He realized he might have overreacted. Wasn't it just that she disapproved of how he treated Bai Ling? It was a common flaw among self-important young women.In reality, Li Nanfang could have easily defused the tension by being shameless, teasing her, or simply keeping quiet and minding his own business.But his reaction was far from normal. Perhaps it was linked to the decision he'd made the day before yesterday?Li Nanfang always believed that while self-criticism was necessary for any mistakes, seeking reconciliation or atonement to gain the victim's forgiveness was paramount.Now, in an attempt to appease Yue Zitong, Li Nanfang had spared no effort in preparing a sumptuous dinner of four dishes and a soup, making his mouth water just looking at it."Dinner's ready!" Li Nanfang announced brightly, carrying a plate of stir-fried pig's blood and chili out of the kitchen, only to find Yue Zitong already eating.She was having instant noodles, seated on the living room sofa, eating while watching TV with a composed expression.As Li Nanfang placed the dish on the dining table, Yue Zitong finished her last bite, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and promptly headed upstairs.Staring at the closed bedroom door, Li Nanfang glanced at the dishes on the table and let out a wry chuckle, "So much food. Fortunately, I have a big appetite."Chapter 58: Who Is the Host of WhomAt seven in the morning, Li Nanfang sat on the living room sofa, fiddling with his phone. On the dining table lay a breakfast he had prepared with all his culinary tricks to win Yue Zitong's favor—colorful, aromatic, and delicious.From upstairs came the clack-clack sound of footsteps. Li Nanfang looked up to see Yue Zitong descending the stairs in a black trench coat and oversized sunglasses, looking exceptionally cool as if she were walking a red carpet."Good morning, Auntie," Li Nanfang stood up promptly, grinning as he said, "Breakfast is ready—I made you stir-fried—"Yue Zitong passed by him without a glance, leaving behind a trail of intoxicating fragrance. Li Nanfang's smile froze. Long after the sound of her car engine faded, he let out a soft sigh: "Her sense of smell must be faulty, ignoring such a mouthwatering meal."Clearly, Aunt Yue wasn't suffering from a lack of smell—she was simply ignoring him, refusing to touch the food he had prepared. In the past, Li Nanfang would have sneered and walked away. No one besides his stepmother had ever dared to treat him so dismissively—not even the old man.But things were different now. Having promised his stepmother, Li Nanfang was determined to win Yue Zitong's favor, no matter the humiliation or the trampling of his dignity under her stiletto heels. He would cling to her like a pest."As they say, water erodes the wall with persistence, and a strong woman succumbs to a persistent man. I don't believe my utmost sincerity can't melt your icy heart," he muttered to himself.After satisfying his hunger, Li Nanfang's mood brightened as he devised a "girl-chasing plan." He hummed a tune and logged onto the OF Killer Platform.As Li Nanfang had feared, Yue Zitong's profile remained on the seventh page, but the bounty had escalated from $200,000 to $300,000. This indicated that the first assassination attempt had failed, and the employer, after consultation with the platform, had upped the ante."I wonder how Xiao Dao's investigation is going," Li Nanfang contemplated calling but decided against it. Xiao Dao was reliable—if he'd been tasked with something, he'd see it through. Calling now would likely provoke some Forget- About-It response, irritating Li Nanfang further.Li Nanfang already had enough frustration from Yue Zitong; he didn't need to invite more. He wasn't a masochist, but there was one issue he had to confront seriously: his diminishing resistance to the demon within him.In the past, it hadn't taken much effort to suppress the violent surges of energy in his body. But as he grew older, stronger, and more skilled, the demon's power had grown as well. Each victory over it demanded immense effort.Li Nanfang suspected that his remarkable rejuvenation was due to the demon residing within him. He was like a host to an alien entity; as long as he lived, the demon could thrive.Without the demon, he might have succumbed to premature aging a decade ago. The demon had granted him life and strength, allowing him to grow into a normal person because it needed a robust host to survive. But once the demon matured, Li Nanfang risked becoming its puppet.Having endured contempt since childhood, Li Nanfang yearned to live as a normal person and refused to be a puppet. Every time the demon tried to control him, he resisted fiercely.It was as if two beings were battling for dominance over his body. Fortunately, so far, Li Nanfang had always emerged victorious. But how long could this last?Since his first intimate encounter three years prior, his martial arts prowess and physical strength had plateaued, as if his life force had been siphoned away along with his semen. He felt stuck in a bottleneck, unable to break through despite his efforts.Yet, in the old man's eyes, Li Nanfang seemed to grow stronger by the day. The old man didn't know that Li Nanfang's strength wasn't his own but that of the demon within. The impossible feats he accomplished were achieved under the demon's control.Each mission left Li Nanfang locked in a grueling struggle with the demon, only regaining himself after exhausting his strength.Yesterday afternoon, Li Nanfang had intended to intimidate Bai Ling with流氓 tactics, but things spiraled out of control as the demon seized the opportunity to dominate him, nearly leading to the rape of Bai Ling.Recalling the incident, Li Nanfang still shuddered with fear. Had it not been for Bai Ling's desperate cry of "Mom," which reminded him of his stepmother, he might have lost himself completely to the demon. In that moment of clarity, he slammed his head against the wall, inducing temporary unconsciousness—the only way to halt the demon's advance.Li Nanfang was certain that had he succumbed to the act, he would have突破瓶颈 (broken through the bottleneck), experiencing a qualitative leap in physical strength and martial prowess. However, his resistance to the demon would have weakened further.Continuing down this path, it wouldn't be long before the demon fully controlled him, reducing him to a puppet devoid of self. Should that happen, even his stepmother's pleading would fall on deaf ears. He might strike her down, unleash havoc upon the world, and ultimately meet a gruesome end.In the modern era of advanced weaponry, even the most formidable demon would struggle to escape annihilation.Unaware of this, the demon sought to control Li Nanfang's body according to its whims. Li Nanfang would never consent to such domination. He had a method to suppress the demon: avoiding impulsive actions and banishing malevolent or bloodthirsty thoughts.By maintaining an optimistic outlook and fostering positive energy—even occasionally teasing his aunt—the demon would remain dormant, buried deep within his heart, until it perished with his physical body Living a quiet, uneventful life was Li Nanfang's greatest wish. Compared to survival, notions of male dignity and the responsibility to uphold justice were trivial and insignificant.The question was, would reality grant Li Nanfang this modest desire?Certainly not. The increasing bounty on Yue Zitong's head on the OF platform served as proof. The employer, hell-bent on murder, and the throng of professional killers chasing after the prize were unwittingly激活 (activating) a demon that would bring chaos to the world.Li Nanfang, bound to Yue Zitong, was destined to face relentless challenges."One day, you'll regret this. I hope that day never comes," Li Nanfang muttered, staring at Yue Zitong's image on his phone screen before shutting down the site.Regardless of the future, Li Nanfang's immediate task was to win her favor. Appeasing a proud and self-important girl was no small feat—it demanded a man to relinquish his pride and humble himself."I am a humble man," Li Nanfang declared, stepping into the bathroom. Gazing at his reflection, he gradually curled the corners of his mouth into a smile, revealing eight teeth—his signature professional grin. He vowed to gift this smile to everyone he met, spreading the joy of existence.It was perplexing, though, that Min Rou, who deserved his smile the most, walked past him with the same indifference as Yue Zitong, her high heels clicking away without a glance.Li Nanfang stubbornly believed that Min Rou's disregard had nothing to do with his curt response when she sought him out in the garage yesterday afternoon. Instead, he convinced himself she must be preoccupied with critical work."Ah well, those who merely seek to muddle through life can never grasp the mindset of workaholics. Better to engage in gambling with Sun Daming and the gang—they're truly on my level."Indeed, as Li Nanfang arrived late, the garage crew wasted no time in cordially inviting him to join their game, vowing to strip him of his last penny. Li Nanfang, of course, wouldn't commit such a self-defeating act. He allowed them a taste of victory, playing along until five in the afternoon. Drenched in sweat from his losses, he finally seized a winning hand, stemming the tide—but not before losing over a thousand yuan.The weekend loomed, and Li Nanfang would be separated from these delightful fellows for two whole days. A sense of loss washed over him, but it was fleeting. Monday would bring payday, swelling the pockets of his gambling buddies. After a two-day respite, the thrill of chasing losses would be all the more exhilarating.Besides, Li Nanfang needed the weekend to mend the rift with his aunt. To his disappointment, Yue Zitong spent both days out, leaving early and returning late. No matter what he said, she remained unresponsive, creating an atmosphere as if they were strangers under the same roof."Stubborn women are such a headache. If you want to break up, just say it! Ignoring me with that icy demeanor—what's the point?" Fortunately, Li Nanfang's covert surveillance revealed no sign of professional killers. It seemed Frank's death at the hands of Black Phantom had intimidated others. No one was foolish enough to risk their life for a mere $300,000.This pleased Li Nanfang, but he remained vigilant. The absence of killers merely indicated that Yue Zitong's bounty hadn't yet reached a level where "for wealth, men will die." Should the employer persist in eliminating her, the bounty would undoubtedly rise further.Sometimes Li Nanfang fancied himself a prophet. On Monday morning, still half-asleep, his phone buzzed with a call from Ye Xiaodao. "Log onto the OF Killer Platform," Ye urged. "You're in for a surprise."Li Nanfang obeyed and was astounded to find Yue Zitong's profile had leaped to the third page, with the bounty skyrocketing to $3 million.Chapter 59: State Security AgentMonday morning at ten o'clock found Li Nanfang arriving at the company via taxi. No sooner had he stepped out of the vehicle than he noticed numerous government agency vehicles parked in the lot. However, he paid them no mind, instead scanning the surroundings and nodding to Wang Defa, who was busy with cleaning duties."Sup, something up?" Wang Defa trotted over, his face beaming with obsequiousness—a stark contrast to the disdainful look he'd worn a week prior when he'd spurned Li Nanfang's bribe of cigarettes.
